DOCSIS 3.1 could let cable companies compete with Google Fiber

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The DOCSIS 3.1 specification has been made public today by CableLabs, and it could mean support for even more outlandish internet speeds that your ISP won’t sell you. DOCSIS is the set of standards that permits the addition of high-speed internet access over existing coaxial cable TV systems. DOCSIS 3.0 connections are capable of 1.5Gbps downloads and 150Mbps uploads, but the new 3.1 standard pushes that to a staggering 10Gbps down and 1Gbps up.

This release of specifications doesn’t mean your internet connection is going to suddenly become faster. In fact, even as cable modems begin reaching the market with DOCSIS 3.1 support nothing will change immediately. The first generation of DOCSIS 3.1 hardware will be hybrids that have full support for both 3.1 and 3.0. That says nothing about ISPs actually providing speeds in excess of 1Gbps.

DOCSIS 3.1 reaches these theoretical speeds by bonding 24 downstream QAM channels and 8 upstream QAM channels. Additionally, the standard calls for a minimum of two channel blocks for internet connectivity. DOCSIS 3.1 will also be 50% more efficient than DOCSIS 30, which should help with congestion in some markets where capacity cannot be added. Don’t expect ISPs to stop pushing for caps, though.

DOCSIS 3.1 devices should start reaching consumers by late 2014. This new standard puts cable companies in a position to realistically compete with products like Google Fiber on the basis of raw speed. Of course, Google might have to start expanding Fiber to more areas to spur such a change.